Filial piety

As the outbreak in China developed into a global pandemic, many countries encouraged the elderly and those with severe medical conditions to stay at home, as they faced a higher risk of contracting COVID-19.

With hospitals around the world unable to cope with a surge in the number of patients needing treatment for the disease, debate arose over whether medics should give priority to younger patients.

However, Bell said that in China－a country deeply influenced by Confucianism, with filial piety its core virtue－strong measures have been taken to protect seniors from the disease.

Filial piety, or xiao, means to respect, obey and care for the elderly, highlighted in ancient and authoritative classics such as The Analects of Confucius and The Classic of Filial Piety (Xiaojing), along with works by Mencius.

According to a frequently quoted saying by Mencius,"Treat all elders as you would respect your own; love all children as you would love your own."

Tang Bei, a professor specializing in global health governance at Shanghai International Studies University, said, "This virtue has been a constant theme in China's COVID-19 response, which includes all-out efforts to provide testing and treatment for all those in need, no matter whether they are young or old."

In the fight against the contagion, the Chinese leadership has continued to emphasize that people's lives, safety and health are the top priorities.

Tang said, "This is people-orientation, an important ethical requirement in the public health field, especially in making epidemic prevention and control policy."

China's response to the pandemic is largely shaped by its ancient philosophy of ethics, which has greatly increased people's trust in the government, the professor said.

Tang quoted from the Confucian classic The Book of Documents, or Shangshu, which states, "The people are the root of a country; when the root is firm, the country is tranquil."

As of April 6, the average total cost of treating a hospital patient with COVID-19 was 21,500 yuan ($3,038).

For severe cases, the average minimum cost was 150,000 yuan, with the overall charges for treating some critical cases reaching more than 1 million yuan, according to the National Health Commission. All such expenses are covered by the country's healthcare insurance system and government budget.

Official data show that as of last month, Wuhan had registered more than 50,000 patients with the virus－about 2,500 of them age 80 or older. The oldest patient who recovered is 108.